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The Journey

Pleasure of Unity

Scripture:  Psalm 133

Quakers, I have to admit, are a bit odd. The way we make decisions are just weird in our American culture. When our governments pass laws they do so with the idea that the majority rules. Quakers do not do this. Instead they attempt to find a sense of the Meeting. This is done through discussing, praying, and listening to the minority voice as we’ll as that of the majority. In many cases the sense of the meeting is not the most popular stance. When Friends say they they have a testimony against war durning a period of time we have soldiers around the world risking their lives, our stance is not exactly popular.

We stive for this because unity is amazing in a community. When a group of people can come to a decision with little or no objection allow us all to push forward into the future knowing that everyone else participating is pressing on to the same goal. It is also joyful to be able to come to an agreement without argument.

Unity of course is a goal, it is difficult to get to that point. Even in a worship community where unity is rule, there is difficulty getting to that point. It takes time, energy, and people willing to sacrifice their own desires for the greater good. It is not however just an ideal, unity can be achieved. When it is everyone involved is more satisfied with life.

As you read throught the scripture, imagine the auromatic oils covering you hair and face. Imagine the pleasure you have as the smells of our labor are covered with the spices of worship. Imagine now, what life would be like if you strove for unity in your homes, businesses, and churches. What would you have to do to gain a life of unity?

About jwquaker

I’m sure everyone wants to know who I am…well if you are viewing this page you do. I’m Jared Warner and I am a pastor or minister recorded in the Evangelical Friends Church Mid America Yearly Meeting. To give a short introduction to the EFC-MA, it is a group of evangelical minded Friends in the Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. We are also a part of the larger group called Evangelical Friends International, which as the name implies is an international group of Evangelical Friends. For many outside of the Friends or Quaker traditions you may ask what a recorded minister is: the short answer is that I have demistrated gifts of ministry that our Yearly Meeting has recorded in their minutes. To translate this into other terms I am an ordained pastor, but as Friends we believe that God ordaines and mankind can only record what God has already done. More about myself: I have a degree in crop science from Fort Hays State University, and a masters degree in Christian ministry from Friends University. Both of these universities are in Kansas. I lived most of my life in Kansas on a farm in the north central area, some may say the north west. I currently live and minister in the Kansas City, MO area and am a pastor in a programed Friends Meeting called Willow Creek Friends Church.

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